Tiltably adjustable foot and leg rest



Oct. 31, 1950 A. B. BELL 2,528,331

TILTABLY ADJUSTABLE FOOT AND LEG aar-5T 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Deb. 24. 1948 WITNESSES INVENTOR:

zum@ AWM-M, @im BY @auf W A TTORNEYS.

.ATILTABLY ADJUSTABLE FOOT AND LEG REST Filed Dec. 24. 1948 v sneets-sneet 2 k H'L..

W I TN ESSES' I N VEN TOR By @auf/@aug A TTORNE YS This invention has general reference to devices .tions broken out or removed for a clearer showing primarily designed to afford comfortable supofotherwise obscured details. port for the lower limbs and feet of persons when Fig, 2 is an approximately central vertical secl seated, reclining or wholly recumbent;l while lit, tion in the same plane of viewing as Fig. l. yrelates, more particularly, to the species or formuv Fig. 3, Sheet' 2, isa cross-section taken on the thereof capable of being adjusted to accommodate staggered plane III-III of Fig. 1.

diiferent limb positions, as well as for use with Fig. 4zis a similar cross-section to the preceding varying typesv of chairs, lounges or other convenifigure but showing the limb supporting comtional resting supports for human beings. Denent in tilted DOStOIl- The primary object of my `inventionis to 10 Fig-5 is a fragmentary staggered detail view provide an improved foot and leg rest including taken as indicated by the arrows V-V in Fig. l. novel counteractivelyinfluential ,means which Fig. 6 isa cross-section taken approximately jointly cooperate for automatic inclination of the `0H the plane VI-VI 0f Fig. 1; and Y limb supporting portion ofsaid rest toA the most Fig. 7 is a perspective View 0f One 0f the DlVOt restful position and thereby conducing to the 15 beeingS, hereinafter fully deSCIbedcomfort of the user when sitting upor partly In describingithe form of my invention ex.- recumbent. empliied by the two sheets of illustrative draw- Another object of my invention is to provide ings herewith, Specific terms will be employed for a foot and leg rest of the type indicated inthe the Sekef elartybut it S t0 be undelStOOd the preceding paragraph including means whereby 20 scope of said invention is not thereby limited; the angle of inclination of said rest canA be .each such term being intended to embrace all variably adjusted relativev to the horizontal for equivalente Wheh pef0-1`mthe Seme UHCUOD fel the purpose of eliminating discomforting leg enfanalagous pulDOSef l strain. v f Referring4 more in detail to the drawings my A further object of my invention is `to provide k, ,25 ,impr0ved fOOt and leg rest, as typically shown by a foot and leg rest of the species above indicated the aCCOmReJIlYlIlg fiIaWlngS, Includes e base including a novel type 0f spring means in comcomprehensively designated by the reference pression and having capacity for oscillation, in ehaeeete1`-3 end e plveteuy related hmb'lest Combination with a `fabrie protective elemmemy similarlyindlcated by the numeral 9. i The base capable of lengthwise movement, and stop means ,1Y0 8. comprises spaced sjlde members e eonVementlY, limiting the angie of oscillation of therest poralthough not essentlally, made of hard Wood and readily understood from the following disclosure.,`

` and positive in action, and furthermore,v is pracj 9.is pivoted snugly intermediate the side members venient embodiment of my invention, with por-,.snug engagement within groove-.like pockets 2I Patented Oct. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE TILTABLY ADJUSTABLEFOOTANDLEG v REST.-v f

t Alfredv y13'; Beil, Philadelphia, Pa..

Application December 24, 1948,` SerialNo. 67,178 1o. claims. o1,`1'55-16'9) Ieach o'f which embodies opposed divergent or tion of my improved device.

arcuate legs II, equipped at their floorengagmg A still further vobject ofj my invention is to provide a foot and leg rest, of the speciesvabove ends with nen'sup treads O1` pads l2 ang a specified, including a .novel form of pivot means-35 merg'mgly related upper Convex-tty er heremehter effective to rgidify the rest as a unit T termed, bearing section I3; wh1le the side members I0 are maintained in spacial relation by aid of v an intervening brace or spring-supporting connector member I4 rigidly inter-engaged to 40 said side membersby'dowels I5, for example, as typically indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Figs. `l, 3 and or, as hereinafter further set forth..

l The limb rest 9 preferably consists of a rectangular body member I6 of hard wood, or other Additional objects of my invention, with more or less ancillary or subsidiary advantages tothose above indicated, will hereinafter appear or. be

considered in conjunction with the accompanying two sheets of illustrative drawings; vwhile-ligne subjoined` claims` more particularly define `the features of noveltvdeemed patenteble- 'i j t .45 suitabi material, with nanking uptumed taper- With the foregoing -objects in view-my inven-m Seetien 01- guard attachments l1y Fig. 2 onlyy tien essentely CODSStS in the provision 0f a kserviceable tor prevent the users leg` or legs from Streng; durable and COmpeiet fOOt and leg fest v,rolling thereof,and spaced dependent side .memofthe 4@character above indicated which is relabers or rockers I8 having somewhat orbicularly tively inexpensive to manufacture, that is durableo shaped lower endsbyI means of which said rest tical and efficient to a high Vdegreefin use. I0 of the base 8. It is to be observed that the Inrthe drawings-f c f front and rear edges I9, 20, Figs. 3 and 4, of the Fig. 1, Sheet 1, Ais'a front elevation of aconseat body member I6 are opposingly beveled for plush or plastic, and of pleated, tufted or smooth character. Furthermore the cushion covering may be made of material and appearance corresponding with the upholstery of the furniture with which the foot and leg rest of my invention is to be associated or used.

Turning now to the means' for pivotally attaching the limb rest 9 to the base bearingsections I3, said sections are tted with substanl" tially similar special angle-brackets 24, 25 respectively, Figs. and 7, the major or vertical flange portions whereof are inset in complementally shaped recesses 21, formed in the side members I8, and said brackets are secured in place as by attaching screws 28, Fig. 5, engaged through holes 29 in the flange portions 2 6, see Figs. 5 and '7 to best advantage; Whereas the minor or horizontal ange portions 30 of the brackets 24, 25 seat on the confronting end sections of the spring-supporting member I4 and are rigidly attached thereto byv carriage bolts 3| engaged through the ends of said member I4 and holes 32 in the flange portions 38, see Fig. 2, to best advantage. formed with undulated side anges 33 whereby said. brackets are materially strengthened, while it is to be particularly remarked that said flanges 33 dene motion limiting stops controlling the The respective brackets 24, 25 arev angular pivotal movement of the limb-rest 9, as,

base side member I0, see Figs. 1 and 2, for a purpose later on hereinafter explained; while 36 indicates the bearing portions for the pivot elements or studs 31 supporting the limb-rest 9.

Secured to each of the dependent rockers I8 of the limb rest 9, for coaction with the confronting face of the respective angle-brackets 24, 25 is a plate element 38 embodying an orbicular lower` portion or conveniently of the shape best shown in Fig. 6, and inset in a complementally configured recess 39 provided for its reception in the associated rocker IB. Each plate element 38 embodies a tubular bearing portion 4'0, a round section dowel projection 4I on the inner face of said element 38, and an arcuate pad 42 on the outer face thereof. It is to be noted the lower portion of the plate element 38 registers with that of the associated rocker end portion, and that the bearing portion engages in an orifice 43 bored through the rocker I8; whereas the dowel projection 4I seats in a boring 44 whereby said plate element 38 is positively restrained from lateral movement relative to the associated rocker I8, and that it is conveniently secured in position by appropriate screws 45.

Referring again to the pivot studs 31, it will be observed that each such stud embodies a relatively reduced extension 46, for snug engagement in the bore of the bearing portion 36 of the associated angle bracket 24 or 25, and that it is peened over or riveted at 41 to effect its rigid atlthe same is by way of illustration only.

tachment thereto in an obvious manner. Cotter pins 4'3 are passed through suitable diametric holes at the outer ends of the pivot studs 31 to prevent any lateral shifting of the limb-rest 9 with respect to the base 8, as well as to positively maintain the coactive parts of the respective brackets 24, 25 in contact with the confronting portions of the plate elements 38.

In order that the limb rest 9 may normally return to the horizontal with respect to the base k8, when limb weight is removed therefrom. while positively retaining its intended capacity for oscillatory movement on the pvot studs 3i, I provide the member I4, and the underside of the limb-rest body member I5, with spaced and axially aligned pads or seating elements 49, 5i), respectively for reception of the outer ends of double helico-volute compression springs 5i having capacity for oscillation relative to their respective longitudinal axes.

` To `maintain or lock the limb rest E! horizontal or at a definite inclination I provide the arcuate lpad 42 of one or both of said limb rest dependent 'knob 56 whereby it is manipulated in an obvious manner.VV Thus it will be readily understood that by retraction of the plunger latch and rocking the limb-rest 9 to the right or left-hand, said rest can be s'et at a deiinite inclination dependent only upon which of the outer apertures 52 has the plunger latch 54 pushed thereinto; also that, when the said plunger latch is moved into the central aperture 52, it will be self evident the limb-rest 9 is locked horizontal, whereupon the device may be used as a hassock or stool. A suitable fabric protective or cover-in element 5 is passed below the spring supporting member I and attached to the underside of the limb rest body member I5 as by clamp strips 5S and securingmeans 59. Incidentally the cover-in element 51 is free to ride under the spring-supporting member I4, and it may `be of any desirable material and have the side edges undulated as indicated at 88 in Fig. l for esthetic reasons; while it is to be particularly remarked said coverin elements 51 serves to protect the springs from becoming unduly flexed outwardly in either a forward or rearward direction.

From the foregoing it is felt that the merits and advantages inhering to my improved limb rest will be clearly apparent; and while I have shown and described a preferred construction,

in. thermore I consider as my own all such modifications in construction as fairly come within the f scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A foot and leg rest comprising a base with spaced uprights and an interengaged connector member; a limb-rest having side guards and dependent rockers for oscillatory engagement between the base uprights; bearing brackets embodying arcuate stops and inset in the opposed faces of the base uprights; plate elements similarly inset in the outer faces of the limb-rest rockers for oscillatory engagement with the confronting faces of the bearing brackets; means pivoting the plate elements to the bearing brackets and f-or substantial abutment against either of the arcuate stops on said brackets; and means for holding the limb-rest ata desirable inclination, coincident with engagement against either of the stops, or in a horizontal neutral position.

2. A foot and leg rest comprising a base with spaced uprights and an interengaged connector member; a limb-rest having side guards and dependent rockers for oscillatory engagement between the basekuprights; bearing brackets embodying arcuate stops and inset in the opposed faces of the base uprights; plate elements similarly insety in the outer faces of the limb-rest rockers for oscillatory engagement between the confronting faces of the bearing brackets; means pivoting the plate elements to the bearing brackets and for substantial abutment against either of the arcuate stops on said brackets; double helico-volute compression springs intermediate the base and the limberest; a Suitable sheet-material cover-in element effective to prevent said compression springs against over flexure; and means for holding the limb-rest at a desirable inclination, coincident with engagement against either of the stops, or in a horizontal stationary position.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the rest comprises spaced uprights with an intervening dowel-attached connector member; wherein each said upright embodies divergent leg portions and a mergingly related convex bearing section; and wherein the floor engaging ends of the leg portions are equipped with non-slip elements.

4. The invention of claim 2, wherein the limbrest comprises a fiat body member having `flanking upturned guard portions effective to prevent the users leg from rolling thereof, and spaced dependent rockers having orbicular shaped ends for coaction with complementally shaped movement limiting stops on the confronting faces of the limbfrest uprights.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein one of the bearing brackets embodies a vertical and a horizontal attaching flange, and opposed undulate side iianges with the upper portions of the latter defining arcuate movement limiting stops; and wherein the vertical flange embodies an apertured bearing section for a special form of pivot stud.

6. The invention of claim 2 wherein one of the bearing brackets embodies a vertical and a horizontal attaching flange as well as opposed side flanges dening arcuate movement limiting stops; wherein the vertical flange is secured in a conformatory recess of the confronting base upright, and the horizontal flange is secured to the adjoining end of the connector member; wherein the vertical flange embodies an apertured bearing section for a special form of pivot stud; and

wherein said vertical flange also includes a socket projection for housing holder means operative to control inclination of the limb-rest or to maintain the latter in horizontal position.

7. The invention of claim 2 wherein each plate element includes an orbicular lower portion; wherein said plate embodies a tubular bearing portion and a dowel projection on its inner face, as well as an arcuate pad on the outer face of the orbicular portion.

8. The invention of claim 2 wherein the means pivoting the plate elements to the bearing brackets each comprises a stud with a relatively reduced extension for rivet securement in the plate clement; and wherein said stud is provided with cotter means for attaching it to the associated bracket tubular bearing portion.

9. The invention of claim 2 wherein the sheet material cover-in element consists of a length of fabric; and wherein said length of fabric is attached to the underside of the limb rest and f has capacity for slidable coaction with the lower ALFRED B. BELL.v

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,093,455 Knight Sept. 21, 1937 2,293,751 May Aug. 25, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 426,541 Germany Mar. 13, 1926 445 Great Britain of 1861 

